TicketsBryan Brown joins the Cincinnati staff as defensive coordinator for head coach Scott Satterfield.
Brown comes to Cincinnati after four seasons as associate head coach and defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach at Louisville. He was elevated to associate head coach in 2020.
Taking over a defense that was ranked near the bottom of college football in 2018, Brown has seen his troops improve dramatically. Under Brown’s tutelage in 2022, the Cardinals ranked second in the nation in sacks (43), third in turnovers gained (28), 12th in TFLs (87) and 19th in scoring defense (20.2).
In 2021, the Cardinals doubled their interception total from five the previous year to 10, and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark earned all-ACC honors for the second-straight season despite only playing nine games under the tutelage of Brown.
Leading the Cards to a bowl appearance in 2019, Brown’s impact was felt immediately as the defense improved by more than 10 points per game and helped the team win the Music City Bowl over Mississippi State.
Brown came to Louisville after six seasons as the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Appalachian State. He was promoted to run the defense in 2018, where he tutored one of the top defensive units in the nation.
In leading the Mountaineers to their third-straight Sun Belt title, a 10-2 record and a fourth consecutive bowl appearance, Brown was nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in the nation.
Brown’s defense ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense at 15.7 points per game, holding the opposition to 10 or fewer points in seven contests. Brown’s unit also ranked third in the country in passing defense (148.1), No. 1 in big plays given up, sixth in total defense (279.3).
Since the 2015 season, the Mountaineers ranked second nationally in interceptions, picking off 70 passes over that span, finishing second to San Diego’s State’s 72.
During that time, the Mountaineers finished in the top 15 nationally, totaling 15 or more interceptions in each of those seasons.
In 2015, Brown’s group picked off 15 passes, ranking 14th in the nation, while the Appalachian State defense finished 2016 with 20 interceptions, the sixth-most in the FBS, and was No. 11 nationally in pass efficiency defense.
From 2015-17, Brown’s cornerbacks combined to intercept 35 passes, picking off 17 passes in 2017, another 10 in 2016 and 15 in 2015. The Mountaineers led the Sun Belt Conference in passing defense in 2018, 2017 and 2015.
Brown trained Clifton Duck, one of the top cornerbacks in school history, and helped him become one of the team’s most decorated players. Duck led the Sun Belt Conference in interceptions with six in 2017, which was tied for fourth most in the nation, and was a two-time All-Sun Belt first team performer, a freshman All-American and the league’s 2016 freshman of the year.
Additionally, at least one of Brown’s pupils has ranked among the conference’s top 10 in interceptions during each season of his tenure. Duck was first and Tae Hayes tied for fifth in the league in 2017.
Both Duck (fourth) and Mondo Williams (seventh) finished in the top 10 in 2016, while Latrell Gibbs led the Sun Belt Conference in interceptions with seven total for 149 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. Gibbs’ efforts garnered him recognition on the all-Sun Belt first team.
Also under Brown’s tutelage, Demetrius McCray led the Southern Conference with four interceptions in 2012. McCray went on to join the National Football League as a seventh-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013.
Brown went to Appalachian State from Ole Miss, where he assisted as a graduate assistant coach for the Rebels, working specifically with the nickel back position. In that role, he was responsible for all practice planning and game planning for the nickel back spot.
While at Ole Miss, he also served as an administrative assistant for the defensive coordinator, assisting with all aspects of practice and game planning for the squad’s cornerbacks.
Brown served in a player development role at Rutgers in 2008, assisting the Scarlet Knights’ special teams units while also supporting in academic support services for the program.
Following his stint at Rutgers, he spent one season at Delta State (2009) as a graduate assistant coaching the Statesmen’s cornerbacks.
Brown and his wife, Courtney, have a son, Bryson, and a daughter, Elle.
Brown comes to Cincinnati after four seasons as associate head coach and defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach at Louisville. He was elevated to associate head coach in 2020.
Taking over a defense that was ranked near the bottom of college football in 2018, Brown has seen his troops improve dramatically. Under Brown’s tutelage in 2022, the Cardinals ranked second in the nation in sacks (43), third in turnovers gained (28), 12th in TFLs (87) and 19th in scoring defense (20.2).
In 2021, the Cardinals doubled their interception total from five the previous year to 10, and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark earned all-ACC honors for the second-straight season despite only playing nine games under the tutelage of Brown.
Leading the Cards to a bowl appearance in 2019, Brown’s impact was felt immediately as the defense improved by more than 10 points per game and helped the team win the Music City Bowl over Mississippi State.
Brown came to Louisville after six seasons as the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Appalachian State. He was promoted to run the defense in 2018, where he tutored one of the top defensive units in the nation.
In leading the Mountaineers to their third-straight Sun Belt title, a 10-2 record and a fourth consecutive bowl appearance, Brown was nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in the nation.
Brown’s defense ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense at 15.7 points per game, holding the opposition to 10 or fewer points in seven contests. Brown’s unit also ranked third in the country in passing defense (148.1), No. 1 in big plays given up, sixth in total defense (279.3).
Since the 2015 season, the Mountaineers ranked second nationally in interceptions, picking off 70 passes over that span, finishing second to San Diego’s State’s 72.
During that time, the Mountaineers finished in the top 15 nationally, totaling 15 or more interceptions in each of those seasons.
In 2015, Brown’s group picked off 15 passes, ranking 14th in the nation, while the Appalachian State defense finished 2016 with 20 interceptions, the sixth-most in the FBS, and was No. 11 nationally in pass efficiency defense.
From 2015-17, Brown’s cornerbacks combined to intercept 35 passes, picking off 17 passes in 2017, another 10 in 2016 and 15 in 2015. The Mountaineers led the Sun Belt Conference in passing defense in 2018, 2017 and 2015.
Brown trained Clifton Duck, one of the top cornerbacks in school history, and helped him become one of the team’s most decorated players. Duck led the Sun Belt Conference in interceptions with six in 2017, which was tied for fourth most in the nation, and was a two-time All-Sun Belt first team performer, a freshman All-American and the league’s 2016 freshman of the year.
Additionally, at least one of Brown’s pupils has ranked among the conference’s top 10 in interceptions during each season of his tenure. Duck was first and Tae Hayes tied for fifth in the league in 2017.
Both Duck (fourth) and Mondo Williams (seventh) finished in the top 10 in 2016, while Latrell Gibbs led the Sun Belt Conference in interceptions with seven total for 149 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. Gibbs’ efforts garnered him recognition on the all-Sun Belt first team.
Also under Brown’s tutelage, Demetrius McCray led the Southern Conference with four interceptions in 2012. McCray went on to join the National Football League as a seventh-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013.
Brown went to Appalachian State from Ole Miss, where he assisted as a graduate assistant coach for the Rebels, working specifically with the nickel back position. In that role, he was responsible for all practice planning and game planning for the nickel back spot.
While at Ole Miss, he also served as an administrative assistant for the defensive coordinator, assisting with all aspects of practice and game planning for the squad’s cornerbacks.
Brown served in a player development role at Rutgers in 2008, assisting the Scarlet Knights’ special teams units while also supporting in academic support services for the program.
Following his stint at Rutgers, he spent one season at Delta State (2009) as a graduate assistant coaching the Statesmen’s cornerbacks.
Brown and his wife, Courtney, have a son, Bryson, and a daughter, Elle.